Dear JimBob,
No too long ago, I heard someone talking about “praying in the name of Jesus.” Would you please shed some light on that subject? Thanks.
I was Listening
Dear Listening,
There are a number of places in the gospels where Jesus promises that he would do whatever we ask “in his name.” John 14:13-14 is one of them. Sadly, the concept of praying “in Jesus’ name” has been one of the most misused and misunderstood concepts in the Bible. Ironically, the way you signed your note as “Listening” gets at the heart of the answer to your question.
First of all, in promising that he would do whatever we ask in his name, Jesus was not offering the secret key to God’s treasure box. He wasn’t saying that if we constantly repeat the name of Jesus, or simply end our prayers with “In Jesus’ name,” God would fulfill our every desire, regardless of how selfish or self-centered they may be. If the simple use of Jesus’ name resulted in the automatic fulfillment of whatever phrase followed, those who use Christ’s name profanely would be in a lot of trouble. Just think of the implications for the person who is startled by someone else and yells, “Jesus Christ, you scared me to death!” Praying in Jesus’ name has more to do with listening than it does with asking.
Let’s say, for example, that Billy Graham approaches you and asks you to build a retreat center for him. Once you agree, he sits down with you to spell out what he wants, the vision he has for the center, how he would like the center used, etc. After enough time of listening to Billy’s heart, you’ll have a pretty good grasp of what Billy wants. What Billy wants is more than brick and mortar. He has a dream and it’s your job to understand that dream so that you can build something that reflects his heart. After some time and a few more meetings, you submit the plans. Your heart leaps because Billy is overjoyed. You heard him and created something that was true to who he is. He signs the document, giving you the go-ahead, and you proceed to build the retreat center in his name.
That scenario is not too far removed from what it means to pray in Jesus’ name. Though I’m sure there are a few more minor elements to what it means, praying in Jesus’ name can be whittled down to these four criteria:
First of all, God initiates it. We don’t create a plan in our heads, take it to God, and “trust God to fulfill it” because we’ve claimed it in his name. Something prayed for in his name is something God’s Spirit initiates and calls us to ask for and work toward. Read the verses prior to John 14:13. Jesus says he does only what the Father asks him to do. God initiates it and Jesus does it. It’s under that umbrella that Jesus then promises that he would do whatever we ask if we follow the same principle of waiting for God to lead. So, step number one is LISTEN.
Second, to pray in Jesus’ name means we’re praying about something that would fit who God is and not who we want God to be. This is the reason the gospel of prosperity slant on praying in Jesus’ name doesn’t make any sense. God is smart enough to know that if he gives us everything our selfish hearts desire, we will quickly become spoiled brats. God’s desire is to help us to grow into mature believers not emotionally crippled babies. We want God to be a doting grandfather in the sky, but God is instead a loving Father who loves us enough to help us grow up.
Third, does what we pray for fulfill God’s dream and represent his heart? Put another way, does it please God; does it put a smile on his face? Like the first and second criteria, this truth implies again that if we’re going to be able to truly pray in Jesus’ name, we’re first going to have to know his heart. We can only do that when we LISTEN to his heart.
Finally, does what we pray for glorify God’s name? When God lays a crazy prayer on someone’s heart, it almost always seems impossible. In fact, more often than not, the things God calls us to are impossible; at least for us. He calls us to the impossible because when we finally do pray for it, when we are willing to lift up that burden and ask God’s Spirit to move us and the mountains that stand in front of us (if they are mountains God has called us to move), then when the mountain moves, it is God who gets the glory.
I hope this helps.
In Christ,
JimBob
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